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New Orleans with young teenagers

I'll be visiting New Orleans for five days, starting February 18th, with my sister, daughter, and two grandchildren aged 13 (boy) and 14 (girl). Any suggestions for activities and restaurants? Any suggestions for places to avoid? I think we'll be there during mardi gras season , so I'd appreciate advice on where and how to see the parades.

I'm not at all sure I would take kids that age to Mardi Gras. The downtown area is full of drunken revelry with parade troops in semi-nude costumes and a huge amount of petty crime (and nudity, sexual activity along the routes).

I'm sure there are some areas that are less awful - but IMHP this is much more an activity for 20 somethings than young teens.

I would google videos of the parades and French quarter activities before heading there.

Unless I'm mistaken, I think that the uptown parades (on St. Charles) are mostly family events, but the ones in the French Quarter are geared more for adults.

My husband and I took our children to New Orleans when they were younger than your grandchldren and we all had a wonderful time! We went to the zoo, to the IMax theater (not sure if it's still there), and the aquarium...not sure if it's there anymore post-hurricane either.

We had several fabulous meals, including one at Commander's Palace in which the personnel were so impressed with my young son that they gave him - and the rest of us - a tour of the kitchen and wine cellar after our meal.

We also took the children to the French Quarter - straight down Bourbon Street - in the cold light of day. There were a few billboards showing scantily clad women, but neither of our children seemed shocked or interested.

The issue of "do children belong there?" comes up frequently in reference to Key West, which is where we spend a considerable amount of vacation time. I always say "yes" but some others think it's for adults only. Huh? It's a little town with families, children, schools, churches, and everything that other towns have. The same is true of New Orleans. By all means take your whole family! If you're staying at a hotel and have any questions about where to go
with the children, I'm sure your concierge will give you good advice. Have fun

New Orleans is fine for families ost of the yeaar - as long as you avoid a couple of the worst streets late at night - when you will see a lot of public drunkenness. Mardi Gras is different - some areas are fine - but others are definitely adults only.

(And I am not a prude. Toplessness or nudity on beaches doesn't bother me, not do PDAs by people of any gender orientation. But to me the gross public drunkenness and semi-public sex and brawling you find in some ares at Mardi Gras are not appropriate for kids that age - or, frankly, pleasant for anyone at all except the hoards of drunks.)

<<I'm sure there are some areas that are less awful - but IMHP this is much more an activity for 20 somethings than young teens.>>

Nonsense.
The FQ is "Adult only" during Mardi Gras, but all the other areas (Uptown, Mid-City, Metairie, West Bank, surrounding areas) are definitely family-friendly. And if you look at the parade schedule listed above, only 3 of the 62 parades take place in the FQ and those are VERY early in the season.

In the other areas, streets are lined with ladders modified to allow a seating area for young children - so they can see the parade and have a chance at catching beads and trinkets. Lots of families dress in coordinating costumes (especially on Mardi Gras day).

Other things to see - Audubon Zoo (fabulous facility), IMAX theatre, aquarium, WWII Museum, cooking class, and a cemetery tour (full of history/fun facts not spooky stuff). And then, of course, there are Katrina, plantation, and swamp tours.

We have also taken our sons (from elementary school on) into the FQ and have frequently walked down Bourbon during the day. As SusanCS said - no big deal. A few comments at first, then little interest.

Sadly, the media usually only shows pics from the FQ, so that's how people assume all of Mardi Gras is. And while I love the FQ, the city (and Maradi Gras) is SO much more than Bourbon Street. Wish some people would recognize that.

Marilyn, I think you and your family will have a wonderful time! I only have one word of caution (and I assume someone where you stay will say the same) - please don't go on Rampart Street at night. It's on the edge of the French Quarter toward the more dangerous side of the area. My husband and I are 70 and have been in NO countless times, but we would never walk down Rampart at night.

Perhaps someone else might think we're sissies, but I just call us cautious. I hope your trip is great

marilyn - are you staying at a major hotel, one that might have a concierge? If do, you might ask what hotels/restaurants on Canal Street near you sell tickets for seats in bleachers set up along parade routes. The prices might be steep -don't know -but worth checking out.

Yes, Mardi Grad is called the Greatest Free Show on Earth - but I always found it useful to put out a little $$$ for some comfort.

I have never done it along Canal because I always went Uptown, but I usually paid $5 and bought a beer at the Columns Hotel, and that gave me access to their bathroom. Prices have probably gone up, but still worth it!

We are locals with 5 teens (13-18 years old) that attends a lot of parades. You simply have to know what to do and where to go. I have been going to parades since I was a child and I have never personally seen anything described here but of course I know it goes on. I feel that there are "parallel" Mardi Grasis and you can enjoy the one that focuses on the traditions/culture of the holiday like the locals do (the ones making fools of themselves are usually the tourists who came here specifically with the idea of doing so). During Mardi Gras, you do want to avoid Bourbon Street for sure. Mardi Gras really doesn't take place in the French Quarter anyway. The parades you would want to see do not roll in the FQ. They roll on Canal St, which borders the French Quarter, but our family never watches them there (too crowded). Not sure exactly where you are staying in the French Quarter but I would try to get to St. Charles to watch parades. If your budget allows, I would buy the parade package for one day (some days, you can stay in the same spot and watch 2 or 3 parades back to back), which includes food, drink and bathrooms. We have done Michauls a few times. It is now Avenue Gallery: http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/avenue-gallery.html
Grcxx has some great ideas of what to see and do. I recently took my kids on the cemetery tour and they loved it. The best ones, in my opinion, for that age is Lafayette Cemetery and Old Metairie Cemetery. Old Metairie is truly a stunning place. We used Joyce at http://tour-new-orleans.com/ She knows her history. I would avoid the large tour group that focuses on Voodoo and other "out there" topics.
Also, City Park is great with that age. The Oak trees are amazing and they do have some rides that are open during the day. It is a beautiful old park. They have Morning Call (the "other" cafe du monde). City Park also Gondola rides. We haven't done it yet but plan to when they reopen in March. http://www.nolagondola.com/tours.html
Also, I would visit the Mardi Gras exhibit at the Presbytere which is right next to St. Louis Catheral and Jackson Square. It traces the history of Mardi Gras. With a little bit of background knowledge about the history of Mardi Gras, things will make better sense.

WorldGallery - excellent suggestions. I knew there were places that offered packages, but I just didn't know specifics.
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"Mardi Gras really doesn't take place in the French Quarter anyway."

Such a simple and accurate comment - and one that is just hard for anyone not from here to understand.

Pre-Katrina, my brother took our parents and his young children to Mardi Gras. My mother was a little concerned before the trip, but they all had a great time attending several family friendly parades and exploring the city.

I took my teens to New Orleans several years ago and we never ran out of things to do. Daily visits to Cafe du Monde, a Muffuletta at Central Grocery, World War II Museum, Audubon Zoo, The Katrina & Mardi Gras exhibits at the Presbytere, Oak Alley and Laura Plantation tours.

After our trip, a friend and frequent visitor to New Orleans once again told me that New Orleans is for adults only. I asked if he had ever been to any of the places I mentioned above and the answer was "no." I understand that the food and drinking scene is a major attraction in New Orleans, and that is a very valid reason for visiting, but there is much more and it is fine for families.

I agree - New Orleans in general and Mardi Gras specifically is great for families. Just like anyplace else, you just have to choose your activities accordingly. Lots of people take their kids to Las Vegas too, which has tons of adult-oriented activities, but there are great family activities too. You just pick and choose based on what YOU want to do.

New Orleans has a great aquarium and the national WWII museum. There are various historic plantations within a short ride (Laura, Oak Alley, etc.).

BTW, I wouldn't walk down Bourbon Street during the day with kids either because there are smells that are unnecessary to encounter.

But Royal is interesting and so is the French Market.

And if you like DA*N good food, zip past the Airport to Jacob's Andouille in LaPlace (then just go straight to the airport from there). Complete hole-in-the-wall shop that makes great smoked ______ (your pick).

I think there is a difference between warning people against an area and saying that you prefer other areas.

Bourbon St is Bourbon St, for better or for worse. By the time people reach their teens, they are pretty much aware of the types of things that happen on Bourbon St, but it may be an eye opener to see the strippers in the doorways, the open drinking on the street, etc. During Mardi Gras, people get wild, but it isn't dangerous or anything, just crazy. Parents should use their best judgment about where to take their kids, but I don't think anybody would be scarred for life by the experience - they may need to buy new shoes though

Oh my gosh, we haven't been to NO in years. But for an Insectarium? I'd be there in a nanosecond. Also, for a tour of Villalobos Rescue Center, which is the object of one of my favorite tv shows: Pit Bulls and Parolees. We need to plan a visit...

I don't know if this would be the wrong time of year, but when we were there in April a few years ago we really enjoyed the Honey Island Swamp tour. We only saw a few small alligators this time (more on our first tour pre-kids eons ago in July) but our kids still speak of the tour as one of their highlights. Perhaps people more in the know here will know if February is a good month for such a tour.

Hopefully, someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but with such cold temps, I'm not sure February would be an ideal time for a visit. Here's some annual info, but it looks awfully cool for seeing swamp critters.

Yes, it is generally too chilly that time of year for swamp tours if you are looking for alligators and most animals in general. I think the swamps are neat year round - I love the outdoors and like seeing things in all seasons (except snow, but this is LA, so that isn't much of a concern ) BUT - most people want to see the critters. The best swamp tour I have taken was in June when everything was active.

I took a swamp tour in May of last year and the temps were unseasonably cool so we did not see alot of alligators, BUT, I still loved the tour. The area is so unique and beautiful and I really just enjoyed seeing the swamp and the local way of life that exists in the area. Have a great time!

One of my friends went to NOLA and said the same thing. She asked me didn't it bother me. I thought about it and realized that actually, no - it didn't. Yes, I noticed some odd smells, but there is so much going on that it just doesn't matter. The smells sort of recede into the background.